Dive Clubs

[Roger Southwick]

Things I appreciate about our dive club:

• We can share ownership of expensive equipment that would be impractical or under-utilized by an individual owner: booster pump, fill whips, banks of helium, zodiac dive boat.
  
• It provides a reason to write up trip reports for a newsletter, which are fun to read years later when you're bored at work.
  
• Newer divers (who might be reluctant to ask to dive with an experienced diver) can find mentors.
  
• Organized club activities allow us to meet divers from other areas.  For example, we met a lot of people during our goofy "Pirates Up the Wazee" events, because people tend to ask you "why are you dressed like a pirate?"  Normally people aren't so inquisitive.
  
• The meetings themselves can be fun, since we have ample time to vist.  Plus there's beer.
  
• Some standing traditions get us out diving in winter, when most of us would otherwise just sit at home: Turkey Dive, Mexican Ice Dive, Bunny Dive.
  
• The club provides some things that an online forum cannot, like hands-on equipment demos and Q&A sessions.  We still use a forum too.
  
• Guest speakers are willing to give presentations on interesting topics.
  
• Most of all, it provides a captive audience for my slideshows.  >